PRAYING FOR A NEW HAT.

    “Whatsoever thing ye ask in My name”—­

“For a long while I had been without money, and my need was very great.  I wanted a new hat so much; and the question arose in my mind, ’What am I going to do about it?’ As I had no human arm to depend on for anything, of course there was only one way for me to do—­ask the Lord for money to get me a hat.  With me, to think is to act, and so I told the Lord all about it, asking, if it was His will, to send me, in His own way, money for the article I needed.  Day after day passed, and I felt almost discouraged.  One day, a letter came from a lady friend I had never seen, enclosing one dollar.  I bought my hat—­neither could I have used that dollar for another purpose.  Soon after this, my physician ordered something for me.  I had no money to get it, but said I would get it soon as I could.  Three weeks passed, and no money came.  Then I asked the Lord for enough to get my medicine.  Another letter came from an old nurse, with a gift of one dollar.  I had my medicine.  Time after time, I have not had wherewith to send my letters, and, as I have a large correspondence, it often is a real trouble.  The only way I have to do is to pray for it, and always, in some way, it comes; not in my way—­not just as soon as I ask for it—­but in His own way, He always provides.  I have learned to trust and not be afraid, even though the clouds hang heavy, and I see no ray of light, the promise is there, and for me, ‘I will never leave thee, or forsake thee.’  I am so entirely dependent on Him for everything that sometimes, in little matters, my faith will, for a brief season, droop.  Sometimes I have to plead and plead over again some particular promises; but these times of waiting on Him only strengthen me for future conflicts.  ’Wait on the Lord, and he shall renew thy strength,’ comes in beautifully on such occasions.  No human being to help me; no one but God.  Sometimes, when I sit alone, such a flood of feelings come over me, I well nigh sink.  Loneliness, homesickness, and the great want in every human heart of sympathy and love, leave me, for a moment, without hope or faith; but, when the heart is weakest, and the need greatest, the loving Saviour is nearest.  ’Like as a mother comforteth her child, so does He comfort me;’ and then, soothed by his power and love, how the aching heart rests ’by the still waters, and in the green pastures.’  There is nothing but prayer for the helpless sinner; nothing else will bring us into loving companionship with the Lord.  We may go to Him always, with every trial, need or sorrow.  He is ever waiting—­ever ready to hear and answer.”

PRAYING FOR A SEWING MACHINE.